Edmonton Vegetation Management

Our safety program is designed to ensure the continued safe operations of our pipelines. This includes routine vegetation management on the right-of-way. A clear and safe right-of-way has visible marking signage and is free of tall-growing vegetation and obstructions. It provides access for our crews to conduct pipeline maintenance, inspections and emergency response.

In 2012, we completed vegetation management on portions of the existing Trans Mountain Pipeline right-of-way in Edmonton, Alberta, including removing brush on the right-of-way in the naturalized areas of Whitemud Creek, North Saskatchewan River Valley and part of the right-of-way from the west bank of North Saskatchewan River Valley to Wolf Willow Crescent NW. This work was followed by restoration and appropriate replanting on portions of the right-of-way in 2013 and 2014.

We are currently working on the next stage of the vegetation management program on the existing right-of-way where we identified some large trees and shrubs that are too close to the pipeline. Large vegetation can interfere with safe operations and cause operational and safety risks. This creates concerns for the reasons mentioned to us and our regulator, the National Energy Board. To address the vegetation that posed a safety concern, we completed selective tree removal in the community of Riverbend in 2016. We have also commenced vegetation management activities in the community of Westridge Wolf Willow (see ‘Proposed scope and phased approach’ below).

We are committed to continuing with our vegetation management and meeting our regulatory requirements. It is our goal to complete the necessary work while minimizing impacts to the community and preserving the local landscape as much as possible.

If you have any questions about this project, please find our contact information in the ‘Contacts’ tab below.

Share

Related Links

Proposed scope and phased approach

The required vegetation management activities will be completed in phases:

PHASE 1 - RIVERBEND (COMPLETE)

Vegetation management activities in Riverbend were completed within the existing right-of-way between summer and October 2016 from the crest of the North Saskatchewan River Valley to Whitemud Drive NW.

The City of Edmonton approved our vegetation management plan for this phase in February 2016. Work in this community consisted of selective tree removal and two stages of “offset planting” of new trees and shrubs of appropriate varieties and in appropriate locations on the right-of-way. Restoration of the right-of-way will be monitored as part of our post disturbance monitoring program.

PHASE 2 - WESTRIDGE WOLF WILLOW (UNDERWAY)

The work in Westridge Wolf Willow will be completed in two sub phases:

Phase 2A – Wolf Willow Crescent to Wolf Willow Road NW (2017 - 2018)

The City of Edmonton approved our vegetation management plan for Phase 2A in August 2017.

Projected timeline:

Selective tree removal along the existing right-of-way – mid-September to October 2017

Phase 2B is subject to further consultation and a separate application to the City of Edmonton.

Our typical right-of-way is approximately 18 metres wide. According to our standard, vegetation taller than 1.8 metres is not allowed within the right-of-way. Through our work with the Community Task Force, the City of Edmonton and neighbours, we recognize the value that trees contribute to the local landscape and we will strive to minimize any potential impacts of this required work. To achieve the balance between meeting our safety and regulatory requirements and preserving public values, we will reduce the tree removal where practical.

As part of our engagement process, in November 2013, a Community Task Force was formed with participation from residents of Riverbend and Westridge Wolf Willow. Since that time, Kinder Morgan Canada, the City of Edmonton and the Community Task Force have met several times to discuss the progress of the project. As a result of these discussions, we developed a collaborative approach, including the reduction of the tree removal along the right-of-way, a tree-by-tree review, offset planting, an engagement plan, and post-project restoration of the area.

We continue working with the Community Task Force, the City and engaging individual neighbours to seek input to our plans and to minimize impacts of this work on the community. We keep residents involved and informed through letters, emails, trail signage and face-to-face meetings. As the consultation process unfolds and our plans take shape, we will provide updates on the progress of the project.